Tag: Marcus Cannon

Report: Three key Patriots opt-out players plan to return for 2021 season

This is huge news for a team that has its culture embedded in these key veterans.

The New England Patriots are already off to a solid start to the offseason.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, three of the team’s opt-out players from 2020 are planning to return for the 2021 season. New England will get back linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung and tackle Marcus Cannon. All three players will provide veteran leadership and a huge increase of talent within their positional groups.

Hightower is 30-years-old and should have a few good years ahead of him, while Chung (33) and Cannon (32) will at least have something left in the tank for this season. As it currently stands, Hightower has a cap hit of $12.4 million, Cannon $9.6 million and Chung $5.1.

Devin McCourty, 33, eluded to the idea that these opt-out players would return.

This will be enormous in keeping the culture in place and passing it on to the younger generation, but the Patriots still have a huge hole to fill at quarterback. They have the fourth-most cap space in the league and that flexibility along with the return of these players could help ease the process of finding their signal-caller.

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Eagles avoid significant personnel losses after a total of 66 NFL players opt-out prior to the deadline

Eagles only have one player opt-out of the 2020 NFL season

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NFL players had until Thursday, August 6 at 4:00 p.m. ET. to provide written notification to their respective teams on whether they would opt-out of the 2020 NFL season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the amended collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association, agreed to on July 24, players have the choice to opt-out of the 2020 NFL season with stipends.

With the deadline now passed, the Eagles only had one player opt-out after Marquise Goodwin chose to sit out after the birth of his daughter.

There were some notable names on the opt-out list and the New England Patriots led all teams with eight players opting out.

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Even an NFL exec believes Bill Belichick masterminded Patriots players opting out of the 2020 season

Which is obviously ridiculous.

When news of Patriots players opting out of the 2020 season, a list that includes key starters Dont’a Hightower, Patrick Chung and Marcus Cannon, started to flood Twitter, a lot of NFL fans jumped to the same conclusion: This is some evil scheme devised by Bill Belichick.

Fans can be irrational and they’re just making jokes on the internet so we can forgive them for buying into wild conspiracy theories. But how about actual NFL executives? At least one of them seems to think that Belichick has influenced these players into opting out for the season, based on a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Belichick has the entire NFL shook. Every move he makes — or, in this case, doesn’t make — has teams everywhere overthinking things and convincing themselves there is some galaxy brain thinking behind it.

Maybe, just maybe, Hightower and Chung are opting out because they have (or will have) newborns to look after and to keep safe during a pandemic.

Maybe, and I’m just spit-balling now, Cannon is opting out because he’s a cancer survivor and considered high risk for COVID-19. None of these players should need those excuses to justify opting out. Just wanting to protect themselves and their families from a disease that ravages the body should be enough of a reason. But, no, that can’t be it! Belichick is involved!

Belichick built this Patriots dynasty by prioritizing the acquisition of smart players. The most logical explanation here is that a handful of those smart players looked at the data, considered how this country is handling the pandemic and came to the conclusion that playing any sport outside of a bubble just isn’t plausible or safe.

These conspiracy theories downplay the seriousness of the situation. Between now and the August 3 deadline for opting out, NFL players will be making a decision that could impact not only their lives but also the lives of their families. This isn’t about their love of football or finding some competitive edge down the line. It’s about staying safe.

That will become apparent when the list of players — and not just Patriots players — opting out grows longer and longer between now and August 3. New England won’t be the only team to lose key players.

How Marcus Cannon opting out of the 2020 season will impact the Patriots

The right tackle is out for the year. Who could step up in his absence?

The New England Patriots found out that they’d be without starting right tackle Marcus Cannon in 2020, as he’s decided to opt-out of the season, via the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian.

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to allow players to sit out this season due to fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. If a player is considered “high-risk,” they will receive a $350,000 stipend and the year will count as an accrued season even though they didn’t play. If a player does not fall into that category, they’ll receive a $150,000 stipend and the year won’t count as an accrued season.

For Cannon, he likely falls in the “high-risk” category, as he battled cancer at the beginning of his NFL career. He’ll have one year remaining on his contract for the 2021 season if he decides to return.

The Patriots will have a pretty large hole to fill on the right side of their line. In the past when Cannon has dealt with injuries, the team has been able to find a competent replacement most of the time. In the most recent case, Week 2 of 2019, Cannon was being replaced by Marshall Newhouse. Newhouse, despite constant criticism at left tackle, was decent on the right side.

New England has a few options for this season.

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Bears NT Eddie Goldman to opt out of 2020 NFL season due to COVID-19

Bears standout NT Eddie Goldman has decided to opt out of the 2020 NFL season due to health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 virus.

Chicago Bears standout nose tackle Eddie Goldman has decided to opt out of the 2020 NFL season due to health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Goldman is the first Bear player to publicly opt out of the season.

Goldman totaled 29 tackles in 15 games last season. He has been stalwart on the Bears defensive line since he was drafted in the second round in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State. He signed a four-year contract extension in 2018.

The absence of Goldman creates a significant hole in the middle of the defensive line. Free agent nose tackle John Jenkins will likely get the first crack at replacing him when training camp begins on Tuesday.

Goldman joins other NFL standouts such as New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon as the latest players to opt out of the season.

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AFC East news: Multiple Patriots opting out of 2020 season

Multiple New England Patriots are not going to play in 2020 having opted out.

The New England Patriots have come out of the gate flying on a list you’d really not want to even exist. It’s very understandable that these tough decisions have to be made, but as of Tuesday morning, at least five players on the Patriots have opted out of the upcoming 2020 NFL season.

After bargaining between the NFL and NFLPA, players have the right to opt-out of playing next season due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. For the Patriots, the list of players doing so grew fast and furiously, and has included some key pieces of their roster.

Those players that have opted out so far include linebacker Dont’a Hightower, tackle Marcus Cannon, fullback Danny Vitale, guard Najee Toran and running back Brandon Bolden, according to Patriots Wire.

Hightower, a former first round-pick, longstanding starter and major contributor to New England’s defense, released a statement to explain why he’s skipping this season.

“Me and my fiancée are just more concerned with the health of our family than football — especially the new addition (of a baby boy) to our family,” he wrote Tuesday, via NFL Network.

Without Hightower, the Pats’ linebacker room isn’t looking very deep. Via free agency, the Patriots lost Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins.

Cannon, a survivor of Non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma, opted out and was previously slated as New England’s starting right tackle.

Vitale, Toran and Bolden played smaller roles for the Pats by comparison, but their services are no longer going to be benefiting the Patriots in 2020. Again, their decisions are understandable due to COVID-19. Per Patriots Wire, Vitale, like Hightower, both had a child born recently. But this offseason has already been a franchise-shaking one for the club after the loss of quarterback Tom Brady and now here’s another layer for New England to deal with.

 

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Dont’a Hightower, Marcus Cannon are among 5 Patriots opting out of 2020

Major opt-outs for New England.

New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower, tackle Marcus Cannon, fullback Danny Vitale, guard Najee Toran and running back Brandon Bolden have decided not to play during the 2020 NFL season due to coronavirus concerns.

Hightower, a former first round-pick, longstanding starter and major contributor to New England’s defense, released a statement to explain why he’s skipping this season.

“Me and my fiancée are just more concerned with the health of our family than football — especially the new addition (of a baby boy) to our family,” he wrote Tuesday, via NFL Network.

Hightower’s position group may look thin without him, particularly after linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts departed in free agency. New England will likely look to veterans Brandon Copeland and Ja’Whaun Bentley and rookies Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings for major contributions.

Cannon, meanwhile, is a survivor of Non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma. He discussed the matter with his family at great length, and decided against playing, according to the Boston Herald. The risk of coronavirus is too great. He’ll leave behind a tackle group which includes Isaiah Wynn, Yodny Cajuste, Korey Cunningham and Justin Herron. Guard Joe Thuney can also play tackle, if necessary.

Vitale, like Hightower, recently welcomed a child into his family, and has elected not to play in 2020 for that reason, according to multiple reports. His departure will thrust veteran Jakob Johnson and rookie Dalton Keene into potentially major roles.

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PFF: Despite Dante Scarnecchia’s retirement, Patriots boast top 10 offensive line

New England’s offensive line will be fundamental in the team’s success in 2020.

One of the most underrated, least-spoken of units for the New England Patriots entering 2020 is the offensive line.

The secondary, special teams and running back corps have earned well-deserved praise. New England’s linebacker, tight end and wide receiver groups have drawn criticism based off the lack of depth. The quarterback position has been in a flux after Tom Brady’s departure and these factors have left little talk on the offensive line.

Brady’s absence will leave a heavy emphasis on the defense and running backs to keep the team afloat. The offensive line will be the foundation for everything the Patriots plan on doing this season and they won’t have the league’s greatest quarterback to cover up mistakes. Fortunately, if healthy, the Patriots will carry one of the league’s best groups.

Long-time offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia retired this offseason, leaving skepticism heading into 2020. Cole Popovich and Carmen Bricillo will join up and hold down Scarnecchia’s role the best they can.

Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzalo ranked the offensive line groups of all 32 NFL teams and put New England at No. 7.

The Patriots finished 10th in our 2019 rankings, and they should have a unit capable of cracking the top 10 once again. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn has played just 563 snaps after being drafted in the first round in 2018 and graded out at 70.7 overall last year, good for 34th among 89 tackles. Wynn got off to a good start in what was essentially his rookie season and showed he was capable in pass protection with a 75.0 grade. Right tackle Marcus Cannon has graded at 70.0-plus over the past four years, though last season’s 70.1 mark is his lowest during that span. He has developed into one of the more dependable right tackles in the league after turning his career around in 2016 with an 86.6 grade that tied for sixth among all tackles.

On the inside, left guard Joe Thuney has improved his grade in every season since entering the league in 2016. He finished with a 79.2 overall mark in 2019, good for fifth among guards. Thuney graded out at 88.0 as a pass protector, allowing just 17 pressures on 732 attempts after improving his ability to handle power players. Right guard Shaq Mason is one of the better run blockers in the league, capable of collapsing defenders at the line of scrimmage or locating them on the move. Mason’s 86.9 overall grade since 2016 ranks fifth among guards.

At center, David Andrews returns after missing all of 2019 due to injury. Andrews has graded at 67.0 or better in each year as a starter from 2015 to 2018, including a career-high 82.1 mark in 2017. While the starting five has plenty of experience, New England has an intriguing group of first- and second-year players — including tackles Yodny Cajuste and Justin Herron and guards Hjalte Froholdt and Michael Onwenu. That group gives the Patriots excellent depth and flexibility when building for the future.

If Cam Newton earns the starting role, he’ll have one of the best lines in his NFL career. It’ll keep him in the pocket and minimize the amount of times he has to scramble and risk injury. Everything starts with the trenches and the Patriots have a top-notch foundation to work with next season.

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The 5 most overhyped Patriots ahead of 2020

Hint: They’re all offensive players.

The New England Patriots are headed into a 2020 season with significant turnover on offense, and the result has been that a number of the team’s players are getting a little too much hype.

With quarterback Tom Brady leaving this offseason, the Patriots have their most important position to replace. And it’s easy to imagine the offense regressing without the greatest quarterback of all time. But Bill Belichick did his best to bring in additional talent, and New England will develop the young talent they already have on the roster.

But let’s be sure to ease expectations on some of these players. There’s too much hype surrounding some of the talent on the roster. And circumstantially, that hype is largely focused on offensive players. So here’s a look at the five most overhyped players in New England.

QB Jarrett Stidham

Stidham has always been a compelling prospect, even going back to the pre-draft process when his quarterback guru Jordan Palmer reminded me that Stidham was going largely overlooked. It feels like the opposite is the case, just 14 months later. Stidham is one of the most interesting stories in the NFL with the Patriots hoping he’ll be a starter after they drafted him in the fourth round.

But they’re not going to just give him the job. They want him to compete against and beat out Brian Hoyer. Stidham may have a harder time than people think if the training camp schedule is shortened. Stidham has always been an interesting prospect, but it’s a huge step for a quarterback to elevate from a fourth-round pick to a starting caliber quarterback.

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2020 draft confirms it: The Patriots focusing on the run post-Tom-Brady era

The Patriots placed a premium on offensive lineman this weekend as they prepare for a world post-Tom Brady.

When you look at the New England Patriots draft selections, it’s very evident that there was a specific focus on improving blocking on the offensive line and at the tight end position. The focus on the line might also give us a glimpse into the future of the New England Patriots offense.

By not drafting another quarterback to compete with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer, and by not drafting any wide receivers, New England looks like it is going to favor the running game for the foreseeable future.

They started their offensive line approach in the fifth round, selecting Michael Onwenu from Michigan.  The theme of drafting linemen continued  just 13 picks later, as they selected offensive tackle Justin Herron from Wake Forest. Finally, the offensive line theme ended with the selection of Dustin Woodard from Memphis.

When it came to their selections at tight end, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, they are two of the best blockers in their draft class. That may not be saying much, with this year’s class looking lackluster. Still, it was a clear emphasis for New England.

When you take a look at the lineman that are currently on the roster, many of them are seasoned veterans. Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Joe Thuney, and David Andrews are all players that have been through the rigors of the National Football League for a couple of seasons now. Having an experienced line will certainly help whoever is under center in 2020.

Nevertheless, Cannon is about to enter his tenth season. Mason is about to enter his sixth season, while Thuney and Andrews are both about to embark on their fifth seasons. Although they are not old in actual age, they have a lot of miles on them football -wise.

New England still does not know what they’re going to get from Yodny Cajuste. The West Virginia product missed his entire rookie season with a quad injury. However, Doug Kyed reported a little more than a month ago that Cajuste should be ready to go once training camp begins. The bottom line is, the Patriots have a talented group of lineman right now. They are also stockpiling the position for the future.

Their draft strategy of focusing on the line makes sense that given that the Patriots are entering a quarterback situation where they could potentially have to start a second-year player. With that being the case, why not run the ball more? Stidham certainly has talent, and it’s important to note that he is not being undermined here. However, he is certainly going to need to adjust to the starting role. Establishing a solid running game, beginning with the line, is going to be crucial for the organization moving forward.

New England took the first steps toward a more conservative gameplan this weekend. If anything, Patriots fans may see a team like the one that won the Super Bowl in 2001. Running first with an occasional mix of passing the football may be the key ingredient to stabilized success both for the season and the future. It may be different than what some fans are used to, but it could help Stidham gain confidence and adjust to the starting role.

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